About US

About UNESCO Center for Peace

UNESCO Center for Peace New York State Chapter is the flagship of the U.S. Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and associations, promoting the ideals of UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization- has been building strong alliances in the New York State Chapter, since 2012. Major partners include Americans for UNESCO, the United States Institute of Peace.

Since 2012, the Center has become a cultural anchor for the region, celebrating community diversity, contributing on current issues and events, engaging policy makers, and working with all stakeholders to further understanding of peace, acceptance and tolerance.

Our Mission

To promote understanding of UNESCO’s mission and ideals and to translate them into programs that will help raise a new generation of Peacemakers, placing Human Dignity at the center of their activities and striving to make the culture of peace a commodity of everyday life through Education, Science, Culture and Communication.

As a member of the US Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations through the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Clubs & Associations Working Group, UNESCO Center for Peace works to create the conditions for” dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities.”

World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers & Associations

Since the first UNESCO Club was founded in Japan, in 1947, Clubs, Centers and Associations for UNESCO have been very valuable partners for the Organization.

Club movement members, who are all volonteers, include people of all ages and nationalities from every walk of life. They share a commitment to UNESCO’s ideals and work to translate them into reality on the ground. Members are therefore well placed to present the views of civil society to decision-makers.

In the half-century the UNESCO Clubs movement has been in existence, the world has witnessed a vast range of events concerning every one of UNESCO’s fields of competence.

In 2010, the movement includes some 3.800 associations, centers and clubs for UNESCO in more than 80 countriesthroughout the world.

At the international level, the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) is responsible for informing, coordinating and mobilizing its members, with UNESCO’s support and cooperation.

In the light of civil society’s growing role in public policy-making, the Club movement can play a key part in educating citizens, and can contribute to dialogue between cultures and generations for sustainable development.

U.S. National Commission for UNESCO

UNESCO is the only UN Agency to have a global network of national cooperating bodies known as National Commissions for UNESCO.

National Commissions make part of the overall constitutional architecture of the Organization.

Set up by their respective governments in accordance with the Article VII of the UNESCO Constitution, the National Commissions operate, on a permanent basis, for the purpose of associating their governmental and non-governmental bodiesin education, sciences, culture and communication with the work of the Organization.Article VII of the UNESCO Constitution (pdf 1MB)

Presently, there are 198 National Commissions for UNESCOacross the world. They constitute a truly global family with as an authoritative network of stakeholders, partners and experts and offer a comparative advantage to the Organization within the United Nations system. This network plays a significant role in raising UNESCO’s visibility at the country level.Directories of National Commissions

Acting as agencies of consultation, liaison and information, and mobilizing and coordinating partnerships with the civil society, the National Commissions make also substantial contributions in the advancement of UNESCO’s objectives and in the implementation of its programme.

The Coordinating Group of National Commissions closely follows key issues regarding National Commissions, advises on the ways and means of strengthening their global network and advocates for their stronger role in UNESCO’s overall strategy and programme – More

U.S. National Commission for Unesco Clubs, Centers Associations

The U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations is an ad hoc group under the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO working to coordinate UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and Associations in the United States. The Commission was created in spring 2011 and Mr. Guy Djoken, Executive Director of the U.S. flagship UNESCO Center for Peace was appointed Chairman of the Commission. Other members include Mr. Eric Woodard, Executive Director of the U.S. Naitonal Commission for UNESCO, and Mr. Andre Varchaver of Americans for UNESCO.

While this Working Group acts as a liaison with UNESCO groups in the U.S., recognition by the Working Group constitutes no official endorsement by the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

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THE INAUGURATION OF UNESCO CENTER FOR PEACE NY STATE CHAPTER

Interview with Mme Sire Dione Conde, President of the Unesco Center For Peace State Chapter